The ENGLISHMAN'S HEBREW and CHALDEE CONCORDANCE of the OLD TESTAMENT; being an Attempt at a Verbal Connexion between the Original and the English Translation; with Indexes, a List of the Proper Names, and their Occurrences, &c. 2 vols. royal 8vo.

Longman, Green, Brown, and Longmans. WE ventured on an early opinion of "The Englishman's Greek Concordance," which has proved itself to be sound, and which we know to have been eminently conducive to the success of the work. The marks of real scholarship everywhere indicated in that laborious and expensive undertaking fairly entitled it to any assistance which we could possibly render in making it known to the public. We knew nothing whatever of the parties embarked in its literary or pecuniary interests; but we felt convinced that a Greek Concordance of the New Testament, constructed upon so excellent a plan, could not fail to be useful to many an intelligent private Christian, while it was fitted to economise the time, and to abridge the labour, of the more critical examiner of the sacred text. And we are still of opinion, that the service rendered by such a Concordance, in the profitable study of the New Testament, is incal

culably great; as a companion to the Lexicon, or even in the absence of it, it must tend to promote an intimate acquaintance with the use of particular words in Scripture, and, thereby, ultimately, with the mind of the Holy Spirit.

"The Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance," we need scarcely observe, is intended to furnish the same assistance in the study of the Old Testament Scriptures, as "the Englishman's Greek Concordance" did in the examination of the New. To those acquainted with the helps extant, to aid in the preparation of such a work, it will be obvious that the labour connected with the present undertaking must have far exceeded that expended in the preceding one. In the work of Schmid, the editors must have found much more available aid in preparing "the Englishman's Greek Concord

ance,

," than they did in Taylor's Hebrew Concordance, in editing the work before us. As Schmid commonly cites three Greek words, and Taylor only one Hebrew word, the labour and difficulty in the latter case must have been greatly increased. The im provement altogether upon the celebrated labours of Trom and Kircher, to which Taylor was mainly indebted, in applying to the English language the principles on which

they formed their works for the Hebrew and Greek, is truly surprising and delightful.

That our readers may understand the general structure of "the Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance,' we shall furnish the general outline of its arrangement. It is divided into three parts. Part 1st, which is by far the largest, exhibits, in alphabetical order, all the appellatives in the Hebrew and Chaldee Bible; and, under each word, a list is given of all the passages in which it occurs, in the order of the books of Scripture, and in the phraseology of the authorised version. The English word, in each passage, answering to the Hebrew or Chaldee, is printed in Italics, for the purpose of ready detection.

Part 2nd contains an index, the object of which is to show the variations in the rendering of each Hebrew and Chaldee word in the authorized English translation. This is a part of the work upon which much labour and care have obviously been bestowed, in order to secure the greatest accuracy. After each Hebrew word, the various English terms by which it is rendered in the authorised version, are given in alphabetical order; so that the different renderings may be seen at a glance.

Part 3rd consists of an English and Hebrew Index, in which the Hebrew words follow, in alphabetical order, the English word by which they are translated. By the aid of this index, the reader, unacquainted with Hebrew, is enabled to find the original word answering to any one in the English Bible, and may compare it with all the other passages in which the same word occurs. If the reader should happen to be acquainted with Hebrew, this index will save him vast labour, by placing before him at once a list of references on the accuracy of which he may depend.

To these three grand divisions of the work there is added an appendix, which contains-1st, A list of proper names, with all the instances of their occurrence in the sacred volume, and an index to the same, in which reference is made to the page in which the Hebrew word is to be found. This is the first perfect list of the proper names of Scripture ever given to the public, in any work, English or continental. 2nd, A table of the variations of chapters and verses in the English and Hebrew Bibles; the English notation of chapters and verses is given first, and the different notations of the Hebrew, as found in Van der Hooght's Bible, follows in a parenthesis.

Such is the plan of the work, which will be admitted, by competent judges, to be very complete; and the accuracy and comprehensiveness displayed in the execution of the plan, are deserving of all praise. The proprietor of the work, who has taken a deep

interest in its literary character, has detailed minutely the indefatigable efforts made, on the part of the editors, to secure accuracy in every department. In the space of thirteen years, the manuscript passed through no fewer than six pains-taking revisions, some of them equal almost to the re-writing of the whole; while a seventh revision still awaited every sheet in passing through the press.

In eight pages and two columns of Buxtorf's work, the editors detected 118 mistakes, of various kinds; and, under the letter N, 300 omissions, and 1100 errata. In Taylor's work, under 2, they found 250 omissions. Indeed the labour and expense connected with the preparation of "the Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance" must have been very great; but the result is highly satisfactory, and the benefit to thousands in the study of the inspired volume, will, we trust, be ample and lasting. A more useful biblical undertaking has not been entered upon and carried through in the present age. We express

these convictions, without knowing the opinions of the contemporary press; satisfied as we are that the more rigid the examination to which these volumes are subjected, the more highly will the literary labours of the editors be estimated. They have displayed a patience, an industry, and a discrimination, which entitle them to the gratitude of posterity.

RELIGION in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA; or, An Account of the Origin, Progress, Relations to the State, and Present Condition of the Evangelical Churches in the United States. With Notices of the Unevangelical Denominations. By the Rev. ROBERT BAIRD, Author of "L'Union de L'Eglise et de l'Etat dans la Nouvelle Angleterre." 8vo, pp.756. Blackie, Glasgow and Edinburgh; Duncan and Malcolm, London.

When we read the announcement of a work upon "Religion in the United States," we were somewhat apprehensive that its object, and many of its details, must have been anticipated in other publications, which have issued either from the British or American press. And doubtless many of the author's facts, historical and ecclesiastical, have been narrated, in various forms, by Hinton, Buckingham, and other writers. But we are happy to find, upon a careful perusal of the work, that it has more than a fair average title to be regarded as a production of originality, vigour, and widely diversified information. As it is free from the extreme national prejudice which disfigures not a little some portions of the literature of the New World, it may be read with safety and advantage by those who have but little

time and opportunity to extend their investigations, or to test the accuracy of its statements, by a reference to other similar productions.

The respected author of this volume is well known in England, and on the continent of Europe, as an American pastor, who, for the last few years, has been employed by certain influential Christians in his own country, in visiting France, Switzerland, Germany, and other parts of the continent, for the accomplishment of objects purely connected with Christian philanthropy. "In the course," he informs us, "of his continental journeys, his engagements introduced him to the acquaintance of a goodly number of distinguished individuals, belonging to almost all professions and stations in society. Among these are many who rank high in their respective countries for enlightened piety, zeal, and usefulness in their several spheres. From such persons the author has had innumerable inquiries addressed to him, in all the places he has visited, sometimes by letter, but oftener in conversation, respecting his native country, and especially respecting its religious institutions. To satisfy such inquiries, when addressed to him by an illustrious individual,* whom God has called from the scene of her activity in this world to himself, he wrote a small work on the origin and progress of Unitarianism in the United States. But that little work, while it so far satisfied curiosity on one subject, seemed but to augment it with regard to others; so that, without neglecting what was, by others, as well as himself, deemed a manifest duty, the author had no alternative but to accede to the earnestly, though most kindly, expressed request of some distinguished friends in Germany, Sweden, France, and Switzerland, that he would write a work, as extensive as the subject might require, on the origin, history, economy, action, and influence of religion in the United States. This task he has endeavoured to accomplish in the course of the summer and autumn that have just elapsed, and which he has been permitted to spend in this ancient city, (Geneva,) whose institutions, and the influence of whose great Reformer have, through their bearings on the history of England and Scotland, so greatly affected the colonization, political government, and religious character of the greater part of North America."

Such is our author's account of the circumstances which led to the composition of the present volume. From the number of authorities quoted, and the documentary character of the work at large, it is obvious that his task has not been undertaken with light notions of its responsibility. He has laboured to produce a volume of permanent The late Duchess de Broglie.

value to the Christian church; and we are happy to say that his success has been equal to his wishes. The volume throughout is very readable, we may say, very entertaining and instructive; while an excellent spirit pervades every page. The following passage will show how just are the author's views as to the influences upon which the true prosperity of the Christian church depends.

"The more the author has seen of the Christian world, the more has he been impressed with the conviction that whatever relations the churches maintain with the civil powers, whatever their exterior forms, or even their internal discipline, nothing in these respects can compensate for the want of soundness of doctrine and vital piety. Not that as some seem to do, he would treat these things as matters of indifference; for he firmly believes the maintenance and promotion of true religion to be affected by them; but it is not in them that we are to find that panacea for all evils which many hope to find in them, or any substitute for the agency which God has appointed for securing the effectual reception of his glorious salvation. That agency, he humbly conceives, is the presentation of the gospel in all its fulness, in all proper ways, and on all proper occasions, by a spiritually-minded ministry, ordained and set apart to that work, combined with holy living, faithful co-operation in their proper spheres, and earnest prayer on the part of the members in general of the churches. The parts of his work, accordingly, that relate to this agency and its results in the experience of the churches in the United States, are those in which he himself feels most interest, and to which he would specially direct the atten tion of the reader."

The

"The Religion of the United States" is divided, for the sake of distinctness, into eight books, or sections. The first consists of preliminary remarks, on a variety of topics intended to prepare the reader, especially the continental reader, for the details of the work. The second is devoted to the early colonization of the United States, the character of the first European settlers, their religious institutions, and the state of the churches at the time of the severance of America from the mother country. third enters, with much discrimination, into an investigation of the changes consequent upon the separation of America from Great Britain, the influence of those changes, the character of the civil governments of the states, and the relation subsisting between the governments and the churches. The fourth examines the working of the voluntary system upon the religion of the United States, and exhibits its extensive influence. The fifth treats of the discipline of the churches, the character of its common preach.

ing, and the subject of revivals. The sixth contains brief notices of all the evangelical bodies in the United States, unfolds their ecclesiastical polity and discipline, the doctrines peculiar to each, and their history and prospects. The seventh describes, with equal fidelity, the denominations in America not evangelical. And the eighth discloses the action of the American churches in sending the gospel to heathen countries.

The volume contains two excellently constructed maps, which will greatly assist the reader in following the details of the author. We thank Mr. Baird for a work replete with instruction, and written in the true spirit of Christian philanthropy.

JOURNALS of the Rev. Messrs. ISENBERG and KRAPF, Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society ; detailing their Proceedings in the Kingdom of Shoa, and Journeys in other parts of Abyssinia, in the years 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842. To which is prefixed, a GEOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR of ABYSSINIA and SOUTHEASTERN AFRICA. BY JAMES M'QUEEN, Esq.; grounded on the Missionaries' Journals, and the Expedition of the Pacha of Egypt up the Nile. The whole illustrated by Two Maps, engraved by Arrowswith. 12mo, pp. 626.

Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley.

This is a missionary work of intrinsic value. Even the men of the world begin to think of missionaries as the most efficient explorers of remote and unknown regions. How can it be otherwise, when there is scarcely a quarter of the globe whose geography, natural history, political, social, and moral condition, they are not illuminating by the literary and Christian productions of their pen. The volume before us is an illustration in point. We have no such account of Abyssinia that we are aware of in our language. There is no enterprise equal to that which is produced by the philanthropy of the gospel. Howard could never have been what he was, had he not been a Christian. We rejoice in the prospect of the missionary character being estimated at its proper value. The time will soon come, we trust, when the motives by which it is formed and impelled will be regarded with deeper interest than even the collateral benefits which arise to society from the contributions made to our stock of knowledge by the travels and writings of missionary agents.

The labours of the Church Missionary Society, in many parts of the world, are eminently distinguished by their enterprise and success. If the Abyssinian mission is not as yet productive of any great result in the evangelization of its people, it presents

a striking example of energy and devotedness on the part of its missionaries, who have encountered hardships and dangers, not surpassed even in the apostolic age. Good preparation, too, has been made for future efforts and success in the knowledge which has been acquired of districts of country never before explored by any European, and in the publication of educational works, and of portions of the sacred volume.

The great impediments which Messrs. Isenberg, Krapf, and their coadjutors have experienced in the prosecution of their work have arisen from the jealousy of the native priesthood, fanned and irritated by the ever sleepless agency of Rome. The Journal of a French Catholic, who visited Shoa in 1839, is an instructive document, as it respects the spirit of Roman Catholicism. He thus writes: "The critical state of Christianity in the kingdom of Shoa should call for the efforts of a Catholic mission to that country. I should desire that missionaries of this communion might succeed in rallying the Amharras round it; but I think there is not a more delicate task-that there is not a work which demands more prudence: an ardent inconsiderate zeal would endanger it. Our missionaries should not forget that the heat of the Portuguese Jesuits lost all the advantages which Catholicism had previously obtained, and ended by causing them to be driven out of Abyssinia, in the seventeenth century. The Abyssinians still remember the violent dissensions which the vehemence of the Jesuits had created among them. The last traces of this remembrance-grievous precedent for Catholicism-must be effaced by means of forbearance and tolerance. Our missionaries ought even to be cautious of avowing their intention. It will, I doubt not, be for the interest of their cause, and an able and auspicious policy, only to present themselves at first as chemists or mechanics, after the example of the Jesuits who conducted, in the seventeenth century, the glorious China missions. I believe it unnecessary to add, that a cold, reserved course should only be observed, until their credit with the king, and their influence over the country should be solidly established by their successful labours. Their efforts should at first be directed toward the king, for on his conversion alone would depend that of the Amharras. Attempts on the Gallas might be tried, by representing to the prince of what political advantage it would be for him to unite all the members of his states in the same unity of faith. It would be necessary to avoid showing any jealousy or animosity toward the Methodist mission, whose anise conduct ought, on the contrary, to be followed as a model. In every circumstance it would be necessary always to keep in view that the slightest imprudence, the least rash

ness, would suffice to destroy for ever, in Abyssinia, the entrance of Catholicism, perhaps of Christianity and civilization."*

This is the true spirit of Popery; a soft mien, concealing beneath it "all deceivableness of unrighteousness." "It is necessary," observe the writers of the deeply interesting volume before us, "to say that the Methodist mission' to which M. Rochet refers, is that of Messrs. Isenberg and Krapf. The readers of their journals will, however, not fail to remark, that they pursued a course widely different from that advocated by M. Rochet for Rome. They uniformly avowed their character as Protestant missionaries, whose only object was, the Lord blessing their labours, to diffuse scriptural light in a region of spiritual darkness."

We regret to say that the labours of these indefatigable men are at present interrupted. "Whether," say they, "re-entrance into Abyssinia may be practicable to the missionaries at a future period, it would be vain to speculate. That a measure of scriptural light has been diffused by their instrumentality, cannot be doubted. Many copies of the New Testament in Amharric, supplied by the liberality of the British and Foreign Bible Society, have been widely dispersed. They were received with avidity wherever the missionaries had an opportunity of circulating them; and in Mr. Krapf's journeyings, copies were found in remote places, far distant from any spot previously visited by a missionary. We may, therefore, warrantably hope that a portion at least of the good seed will take root, and bring forth fruit to perfection."

We earnestly recommend this work to all the friends of Christian missions.

CONTRIBUTIONS towards the EXPOSITION of the Book of GENESIS. By ROBERT S. CANDLISH, D.D. 12mo, pp. 444.

J. Nisbet and Co.

The name of Dr. Candlish ranks high as a theologian of first-rate attainments. It was this pre-eminence, rather than any more adventitious circumstance, which secured for him the pulpit and the parish of the late Dr. A. Thompson. He has, ever since his introduction to St. George's church, maintained a high reputation as a popular, faithful, and elaborate expounder of the sacred oracles. Amidst all the conflicts of the Scottish church, during the last few years, in which he has taken a leading part, he has stood on the very pinnacle of honour as a man of deep piety, consistent deportment, and unflinching zeal for the truth as it is in Jesus.

These "Contributions towards the Exposition of the Book of Genesis" will nobly *Rochet, pp. 189, 190.

sustain the rank which he has gained, as a Biblical student, and a man of profound insight into the word of God. At the present moment, the work is peculiarly valuable, as it investigates many of those opinions which have been advanced by modern geologists. Dr. Candlish is a man of sober and en lightened views; and but little disposed to theorise and speculate, where it becomes us to wonder and adore. "The title," he observes," of this treatise is intended to denote its design: as not professing to be a complete exposition of the Book of Genesis, and yet differing, in some respects, from what is usually understood by a series of sermons or lectures on any particular portion of Scripture. The character of contributions or essays towards a full commentary on Genesis, seemed best to correspond with the aim, as well as the execution, of the work, in which there is no attempt to enter into a minute or critical examination of the sacred text, verse by verse, the object being rather to unfold those views of the Divine government and the history of man, which the general strain of the narrative, in its obvious interpretation, suggests."

We consider this work as one of the most instructive now extant upon the Book of Genesis, and the patriarchal history at large, and cordially recommend it to all Biblical students.

LECTURES on the EPISTLE of PAUL the

APOSTLE to the ROMANS. By T. CHAL-
MERS, D.D., and LL.D., in 4 vols., 12mo.

Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

Having reviewed all Dr. Chalmers's other works, we feel a great satisfaction in presenting to our readers a brief notice of his course of Lectures on the Epistle to the Romans, which, if we mistake not, entitles him to a more distinguished place as a theologian than all his other productions combined. We have read these Lectures through with great delight and profit, and are frank to confess that they have given us more enlarged and comprehensive views of this difficult portion of Paul's writings than we had been enabled to acquire by all our former readings. Though the distinguished lecturer has aimed throughout at nothing but a popular course, adapted to ordinary minds, he has not failed to bring out the full meaning of the Epistle, and to shed light upon its most intricate parts. His strength, indeed, unlike commentators in general, has been reserved for those portions of the Epistle which have placed Arminians and Calvinists at the greatest distance from each other. We have never, for instance, seen so satisfactory an exposition of the seventh chapter of the Romans, though he has not deviated a single point from the